Internal-combustion engine.



Y W. T. INGRAM.

. INTERNAL COMBUSTlON ENGINE.

APPLICATION man :uuz24. 19m,

1,239,274. I PatenteflSept, 4, 1917;

awuemto v W-T INGRHM UNITED STATES PATENT @FETQE.

WILLIAM T. INGRAM, E RULETON, KANSAS.

INTERN ALCQMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

Application filed .Tune 24, 1916. Serial No. 105,724

To all whom it may concern:

- specification, reference being had to the ac 'companying' drawings.

This invention is an internal combustion engine.

One object ofthis invention is to provide means to utilize the explosive pressure on two pistons operable within one cylinder.

Another object is to reduce the vibrations caused by the explosions.

A further object is to provide two pistons operable within one cylinder and connecting the pistons directly to the crank shaft in such a manner that a turning effortwill be produced by each piston.

A still further object is to provide an engine with a plurality of cylinders, each having two pistons operable therein, connecting one-half of the pistons by means of rods to the crank shaft and connecting" the other half of the pistons by rods to yokes, which yokes are suitably connected to the crank shaft so that a synchronous movement of the pistons operates to produce a continuous rotation of the shaft. v i

Broadly stated the invention comprises a crank shaft, a plurality of cylinders, each of the cylinders being provided with two pistons operable therein, certain of the pistons being connected to the crank shaft by connecting rods, the rest of the pistons be- 7 ing connected in pairs by connecting rods to a plurality of spaced yokes, the yokes being connected to the crank shaft by means of connecting and coupling rods, ports for said cylinders, connecting means adapted to fire the compressed fuel, a water jacket for each of the cylinders, and means to mount the crank shaft and cylinders.

One practical form of the invention will be described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

The figure is a vertical sectlonal VlQWi As shown in the figure, the engine 1s 111- closed in a casing A. The engine comprises four cylinders indicated by the numerals 5, 6, 7 and 8. These cylinders are provided substantially mid-way between their ends with suitable inlet ports v9, 10, 11 and 12 and with exhaust ports 13. l4. l5 and 16. Ex-

tending through the walls of each of the cylinders are the spark plugs 17,18, 19

and 20.

Surrounding each of the cylinders are water ackets B. These jackets are utilized for the purpose of keepihg the several cylinders cool adjacent the point of explosion and where the hottest gases exist. As shown, these cylinders and their water jackets are preferably cast in pairs. The cylinders are secured to the casing A by means of the channel or angle members 21, and and they are spaced apart by means of the'channel member 28. As shown, these several angle members 21, 22 and 23 are bolted to the casing and to the several cylinders by meansof the bolts Each of these anglemembers carry at a predetermined point a removable bushing. As shown in the drawing, the channel members 21. and 23 have positioned within them the bushings 25, 26, 27 and 28. These bushings also serve i as guide elements.

Disposed in the lower part of the casing, is a crank shaft G which is provided with the usual cranks 29, 30, 31 and 32. These cranks maybe. of the usual type and form the construction as is customary in making crank shafts and they are preferably posi tioned so that the cranks 29 and 30 are displaced through one-hundred. and eighty degrees with respect to the cranks 31 and 32.

.The cran is are provided with webs between which extend the crank pins. Disposed upon this crank shaft are other cranks 33, 34, 35 and 36 which are so positioned or displaced from the other cranks that they may be connected suitably with pistons operable within the cylinders. This crank shaft is adapted to rotate in suitable bearings 37 and 38, as shown in the figure.

Operable within the cylinders 5, 6, 7 and 8 are a plurality of pistons. two of which are provided for each one of thecylinders. lVithin the cylinder there are disposed the pistons 39 and i0, and within the cylinder 6 there are disposed the pistons 41 and 42, and within the cylinder 7there are disposed the pistons 43 and ii, and within the cylinder 8. there are the pistons 45 and 46. These pistons may be of any usual or customary type and are provided with suitable pins. one of which is indicated at 47.

This pin may be secured within the by means ofthe set screws l8.

The connecting rods 49, 50, 51 and 52 are piston .connected to their respective crank pins disposed within the cranks 2 30, 31 and 32. These crank pins may be forinec as an integral part of the crank shaft and webs or they may be Separately inserted therein and secured in any customary mannen The connecting rods53, 5st, and 56 are connected to the pistons 39, -11, 4:3 and in a similar manner to that connection described for the [0 piston 42. The connecting rods 53 and 54:

are suitably secured to a yoke 57. The securing means, as illustrated, comprises a threaded end for the connecting rod and the nuts 58. The connecting rods and :36 are suitably connected to the yoke 59 by means' of a threaded end and the nuts 60.

The yokes 57 and 59 are provided with suitable apertures adjacent their outer ends through which pass the coupling rods 61, 62, 63 and 6st. The several ends of these rods are provided with screw threadsand are adapted to cooperate by means of these threads with the nuts 65. The coupling rods 61, 62, 63 and 6t move within and are guided 25, by the bushings 25, 2G, 21' and 28. The other ends of these coupling rods 61, 62, ("33 and 64s are provided with suitable forks 66, 67, 68

and 69. These forks are provided with suitass. a

The connecting rods 71, T2, 73 and 7e are provided at one end with a suitable-hole to engage with the pins 70 which are disposed within the forks 66, 67, 6S and 69. These pins .are used to connect the several coupling rods with their respective connecting rods. The other ends of the connecting rods 71, 72, '73 and 71- are provided with suitable bearings to cooperate with the crank pins formed in the cranks 83, 3st, and 36.

The upper ends of the cylinders are connected to the'top of the crank piece by means of aweb section 75. This web section is secured to this top by means of the bolts 7 6. A slot 77 is formed in each one of these web sections which is of sufficient width to permit the yokes 57- and 59 to freely move therein. These slots, however, may be made so that they provide bearing surfaces to cooperate .withthe yoke if so desired.

The crank shaft C may be supported in- :termediate of the bearings 37 and 38, as I indicated at. T8 and '79. Thesebearings 78 and may be of the customary form and type and if desired, additional bearings may be utilized to better support the crank shaft. No particular means have been shown with respect to valve operation or the valves themselves as they are preferably standard types.

ear

the pairs of cylinders, are water .space H 'SO and 81. The lower ends of the cyli may be supported in any usual or custoi'nary operate to force the exhaust gases out and able apertures through which the pins No means are shown for circulating the.

way or they may extend free from the channel or angle members 21, 22 and 23, as shown.

In practical operation, both of the pistons operate to draw in the charge and compress it and after the explosion occurs, the pistons 70 thus very thoroughly scavenge the cylinder of the unburnt and other gases. The move ment of the pistons, as for illustration the cylinders 5 and 6. is as follows: As the pistons are forced outwardly toward the end of the cylinders, a'turning movement is communicated to the crank shaft by means ofthe pistons l0 and The pistons and all are also moving outwardly and operate on 8 the yoke 57 which in turn is connected to the crank shaft by means of the coupling rods 61 and 62 and the connecting rods 7-1 and 72. Thus the pistons contribute to impart rotary motion to the crank shaft upon their movement. The cranks andfil are p'ositioned either a little more or a little less than one-hundred and eighty degrees with respect to the cranks 29 and 30 and the cranks 35 and 36 are similarly positioned with respect to the cranks 31 and 32. It is preferable to fire the cylinders in a predetermined order which corresponds to firing cylinder 5, then 7, then 6, then 8.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is 1. In an internal combustion engine, a supporting frame including an upper trans verse member, and vertical side members,

a plurality of cylinders vertically disposed within the frame and having vertically slotted webs attached at their upper ends to said transverse member, spacing and supporting members disposed between the cylinders and the vertical side members and holding the cylinders in a vertical position,

an upper and a lower piston in each cylinder, a crank shaft having a crank for each cylinder thereon, certain of the cranks be,- ing connected to the lower pistons, transversely extending yokes operatively c0nnected to the upper pistons and extending through the slotsin said webs, and connecting rods operatively connected to and extending between said yokes and certain cranks on the shaft.

2. In an internal combustion engine, a plurality of cylinders arranged in pairs and open at opposite ends, a pair of oppositely disposed pistons in each cylinder, intercomniunicat'ing water ackets on the cylinders of each pair of cylinders, each pair of cylinders having upwardly extended slotted webs, brackets connected to and spacing one pair of cylinders from t next adjacent pair, brackets connected 0 nd supporting the and cylinders, a cran shaft having a crank for each cylinder, the cranks forone pair 'ofjgcylinders extending in an opposite direction to the cranks of another pair of cylin- {for each yoke, the cranks for one yoke extending in a direction opposite to the cranks for the other; yoke, guide rods extending downwardfrom""-t he ends of each yoke and having sliding engagement through the brackets,=i and; connecting rods connecting the last "nanied cranks to the guide rods, each pair of cylinders having intercominunicating water jackets, the walls "of said water jackets of each pair extending between and connecting the pair of cylinders and each cylinder. at its middle having intake and outlet ports. I

3.' In an internal combustion engine, a casing comprising upper, lower and side Walls, a crank shaft passing through the lower end of the casing, a' plurality of interconnected pairs of cylinders disposed in said casing and having upper and lower ends, each pair of cylinders ,having upwardly extending webs Vertically slotted and attached at their upper ends to the upper wall of the casing, perforated brackets V supporting the cylinders from the end walls of the casing and spacing one pair of cylincrankella tons :--disposedi in each cylinder, the lower pistons connected to cranks on the the cranks of one :pair of tons being disposed in a direction opposite a to the cranks voi": the other pair of pistons,

a yoke for each pair of cylinders pa$ing through the slotted webs thereof and op-. eratively connected to the upper pistons, a

pair. of cranks on the crank shaft'for eachyoke, the cranks for one yoke being disposed in an opposite direction to the cranks for the other yoke, guide rods connected to said. yoke, cranks passing through the perforations in the brackets, and connecting rods operatively connected to the. yoke, cranks and to the guide rods, each pair of cylinders being formed with surrounding intercommunicating Water jackets, the webs-of the water jacket between each pair of cylinders being connected to and bracing the cylinders from each other. p

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM T. IN A 

